Residents across the Interlake region are preparing for potential spring flooding as the provincial government warns of rising water levels and ice movement. The Manitoba Hydrologic Forecast Centre issued a bulletin on April 17, 2026, noting that partial snowmelt is underway and warmer temperatures expected next week could accelerate the runoff.
In response to the risk, the Canadian Red Cross has set up a sandbag filling machine in Selkirk to help supply communities currently in the path of rising waters. The area is under close observation as runoff in the Fisher River and Icelandic River basins is expected to begin between April 20 and 21, with peak flows anticipated from April 23 to 28.
The concern is particularly high for the Peguis First Nation, which declared a state of emergency on April 18, 2026. Chief Stan Bird has confirmed that evacuations will be necessary for members of the community, which has faced five major floods since 2000. As of April 13, nearly 110,000 filled sandbags had already been delivered to the community to help protect homes.
The province notes that the snow water equivalent in the Fisher River basin is roughly 113 millimetres, which is nearly double the long-term average. Depending on how quickly the melt occurs, officials believe peak flows could reach levels comparable to the 2014 flood or approach the more destructive 2022 event. While Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has committed to delivering permanent flood protection for the community, Peguis currently lacks the permanent infrastructure needed to prevent these repeated threats.
